Headlight



y 1943- L. E. HICKS 318,311

HEADLIGHT Filed April 26, 1941 //7 v6)? for 7 A e was E. fife/41sPatented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEADLIGHT Milwaukee,Oreg.

Application April 26, 1941, Serial No. 390,565

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in headlights. and moreparticularly, to the type of headlight wherein the lens, reflector, andlight bulb are handled as a unit, and wherein heretofore. the burningout of the lamp or the destruction of any part of the unit rendered itnecessary to purchase an entire new unit. Thus, the replacement of alamp, or a lens, or a reflector was expensive.

With my new and improved form of construction of this type of headlight,I am able to quickly and conveniently replace any one of the partsbroken for the cost of the part itself, and not at the expense of theentire unit.

Accordingly, it is one of the principal objects of the invention toprovide a lens and reflector hermetically sealed together, and toprovide a light bulb properly positioned at the focal point of thereflector and detachable therefrom without disturbing the relation ofthe reflector to the lens.

A further object is to provide a substantial rigid mounting for thesocket and light bulb which will also provide a solid mounting for thelens and reflector unit which may be quickly and conveniently attachedto or removed from the mounting.

A further object is the provision of a unit of this character madewithin precision limits and so arranged that when assembled, the lightbulb will be permanently located at the proper focal point with respectto the reflector.

The foregoing and other objects will appear as a my invention is morefully hereinafter described in the following specification illustratedin the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appendedclaim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my new and improved headlight with afragment broken away and partly in section for convenience ofillustration.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation taken on the line 33 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a reduced rear elevation of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, with the lamp andsocket removed.

Figure 6 is a reduced detail view of the lamp and socket therefor, asillustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

In Figure 1, reference numeral l indicates a refiector formed of anysuitable material and having a lens 2 hermetically sealed to itsoutermost rim in any approved manner. The rear portion of the reflectorl is formed with an integral cylindrical projection 3 molded orotherwise secured to a cylindrical support 4, flanged as at 4A, andformed with a plurality of annular ribs 5. Molded integral with thereflector l and projecting forwardly with respect thereto is acylindrical projection 6 having a hemispherical end portion 1 to form aspace for locating the lamp 8 at the proper focal point of the reflectorwithout penetrating or extending through the Wall of the reflector, asis now common practice. By this arrangement, a, vacuum may be retainedbetween the lens and housing and, at the same time, render the lightbulb accessible and removable from a position interior of the reflector;and whereby also the lens and reflector may remain sealed together andhandled as a unit independent of the light bulb and its socket. In thesealed headlights now known in the art, this is not possible, since thelight bulb is permanently attached and sealed within the reflector andthus makes it necessary to replace an entire unit in the case of bulbfailure.

The reflector I, through the medium of the cylindrical support 4, ismounted to a circular plate 9 by means of bolts II), or the like. Theplate 9 is securely mounted in any approved manner to any suitablesupport for carrying the light, such as the fender or other part orportion of a vehicle.

The plate 9 is formed into an outwardly extending lamp socket H,flanged, as at I2, at its outer end, and shouldered, as at 1-3, at itsinner end to carry the cylindrical support 4 in spaced relation, as atI3A to the socket. The flange I2 may be apertured, as at M; and theplate 9 is apertured as at 15, to provide ventilation through the space13A and into the cylindrical projection or lamp housing 6. The interiorof the socket I I is provided with the usual block I5A of dielectricmaterial carrying two contact points l6 connected in any suitable mannerwith a source of electrical energy and adapted to register with contactsll carried by the base of the light bulb. The base of the light bulb isprovided with the usual projections I8 for engagement with a bayonetlock l9 formed in the socket in the conventional manner.

Between the flange 4A of the cylindrical support 4 and the plate 9, Iprovide a sealing gasket 20 of any suitable material to protect thespace "A, as well as the interior oi the lamp housing. against dust,moisture, or the like. I

Although I have shown a particular form of the lamp socket and mountingfor the reflector, it is to be understood that I do not wish to belimited to the particular details of construction thereof, since variousforms could be used for removably supporting my new and novelcombividing a rearwardly extending boss portion having a cylindricalpassage open at its rear end, a

hollow lamp-receiving projection formed integral with the reflector andextending inwardly therefrom as a continuation of said boss passage, alamp socket receiving bushing secured in said boss passage and having a.laterally extending attaching flange at its outer end disposed againstthe end of said boss and extending beyond the sides thereof, a lampsocket diametrically smaller than the interior of said bushing andhaving a laterally extending bushing engaging guide flange at itsforward end, a plate secured to the rear end of said socket and adaptedto be attached to a support, means detachably securing said plate tosaid bushing flange, said plate having an annular socket-centeringshoulder engageable in the outer end of said bushing, and the socketflange and socket plate having vent openings opening into the spacebetween the socket and wall of the bushing opening.

LEWIS E. HICKS.

